The Width tool in Illustrator CS5 is a lovely addition. Very easy to use. It makes a one-step job of creating tapering spirals and I’ve detailed how to use it in the attached pdf below.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t find the Spiral tool settings intuitive at all and it’s always trial and error as to which value I change to get a different spiral from it so I’ve also included a detailed explanation with pictures of how the Spiral tool works.

I hope this makes them a little clearer and easier for you.
Many thanks to Obsidiandawn (www.obsidiandawn.com) for the fairies and Yasny Chan for the vector flower brushes.

I wanted to make something with the spiral tool in Illustrator and filled up the letter h (my initial) with them. I took the final result into PS and added a few effects and was pleased with the final result. The tutorial is here for you to download if you fancy having a go yourself.
Many thanks to Obsidian Dawn (www.obsidiandawn.com) for the fairy brushes.

Still getting to grips with Illustrator CS5 and poking about at the new tools. I was delighted to find the Width Tool is easy to use and a very handy little widget. I used it to make some tapering shapes with curls on the end – see below. They do look like a set of Victorian surgical accessories but they have their own charm. Well, I like them, anyway. I’ve written a quick tutorial to produce a basic squirl shape and introduce the principles of working with the tool so the rest is down to you. I hope you enjoy.

I am Photoshop bonkers at the moment. It’s funny how the urges come in splurges.

Anyway, bubbles caught my mind’s eye today so I made a lovely round shiny bubble in PS then converted it to a bubble brush so I could sweep bubbles wherever I like. The tutorial is here for you to have a go yourself and paint bubbles wherever you want a sparkle and shimmer. Use them on your digital scrapbook layouts or make your own and play with reflections using Polar Co-ordinates or putting things inside the bubbles…. (before they are converted into brushes) like butterflies or fairies or children, though that feels a bit sad …

Me and the tree

Hello there!

This is a blog of many things and reflects my interests as they come and go. You’ll find Illustrator and Photoshop tutorials along with embroidery, sewing, crochet, baking and papercutting. It’s fairly eclectic.

The tree has long roots in Ireland in a garden full of flowers with lots of birds, bees and butterflies.

I live in a very happy home with Mr Tree and our two kitty girls, Gracie and Jess.